64bit ARM Cortex-A72 switch aimed at cloud edge networks

NXP and Accton Technology developed a network services switch solution that packs the ARM Cortex-A72 technology in a proven ODM design and in an open standards-based software platform.

NXP Semiconductors has joined forces with Accton Technology to create a network services switch solution that incorporates the 64bit performance of ARM Cortex-A72 technology within a proven ODM design and in a comprehensive, open standards-based software platform.

To streamline development and speed customer time to market, the NXP and Accton, an ODM, are offering support to open networking standards including those from the Open Compute Project (OCP). In addition, NXP’s VortiQa application-level software features network functions easily leveraged by OEMs and operators for rapid productisation. The investment in an OCP offering creates a low-cost, open solution that is efficient and scalable for the evolved IT infrastructure, noted the companies.

Based on NXP’s QorIQ LS2088A processor offering eight 2.2GHz Cortex-A72 cores at under 25W of power, the NXP network switching platform delivers the high end performance to support “top-of-rack” applications at the heart of the data centre, as well as the power efficiency to scale cloud edge networking equipment where energy efficiency is critical. The Accton Edge-core AS7700 utilises Broadcom’s StrataXGS Tomahawk Switch series and has thirty-two QSFP28 ports in a 1U form factor, with each port supporting 100GbE, 2x50GbE, 40GbE, 4x25GbE or 4x10GbE connections.

Extreme Performance at the Network’s Edge

NXP’s QorIQ LS2088A processor features a VMM offload package that completely offloads advanced functions in hardware and eliminates hypervisor overheads, freeing onboard ARM Cortex A-72 cores to run customer valued software. It also flaunts NXP networking monitoring, providing new features such as netflow, s-flow, BFD, ETH-OAM and ARP offload, which help reduce BOM cost and eliminate ASICs or FPGAs from the system architecture. In addition, it boasts enablement of services such as IPSec, Firewall, NAT, as well as L4-L7 services such as DPI, QoS, WAN optimisation and storage acceleration via open source as well as trusted third party providers.

NXP’s network switching platform based on QorIQ LS2 family devices is shipping in volume to multiple NXP QorIQ customers. The platform is available for evaluation on NXP’s LS2088A device.